Episode 534 – Vets, Jeeps, Guns, and …Glue?
This Week In Jeep
Stellantis Will Correct It’s VOC Emissions
Over the last month or so we have been hearing about Jeep’s Mack assembly plant emitting harsh chemical odors. Odors, fumes, and smells are strong enough to actually cause visible irritation in several people in the nearby areas. Inspectors with the Air Quality Division of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy last month observed paint emissions from a part of the Mack Assembly Plant’s new paint shop were not being ducted to a regenerative thermal oxidizer to limit their release into their air. Pollution control is a requirement in the permit for the plant operations in producing the three-row Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and soon, the next-generation two-row Grand Cherokee. Bodies of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L enter the paint shop at Stellantis NV’s Detroit Assembly Complex-Mack plant, where they get their final paint finishes. The state of Michigan has hit the plant with three air-quality violations since September. Apparently the current ducting from one of the plant’s paint lines are connected directly to an exhaust stack. That ducting will be disconnected and then reconnected to a new ducting line that will direct emissions of volatile organic compounds to a concentrator and then to the oxidizer — the configuration that the plant is SUPPOSED to be used on ALL of its lines, as is indicated by the company’s permit. Volatile organic compounds or VOCs can become the toxic gas ozone when they are released into the atmosphere. Stellantis NV, Jeep’s parent company, has released a statement this week, saying that it will install new ducting and equipment before the end of the year to address this issue. The correction requires new electrical, equipment, and controllers, the installation of which will begin towards the end of November 2021.
Testing on the system’s ability to capture emissions also will occur following its installation.
World War II Jeep Has Signature Gun Stolen
A veteran who owns an original Willys Jeep used in World War II is devastated that someone targeted his vehicle, stealing one of the features that bring it back to its wartime roots. Owner Bob Marshall served in the Marine Corps and purchased the vehicle to use as part of Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and July Fourth ceremonies.
He mainly purchased it for the veterans who often find so much nostalgia from seeing the vehicle. Some veterans prefer not to relive those memories, while some do.
Marshall, who is from Highlands Ranch Colorado, recently took the Jeep to a mechanic shop in Parker, just a few miles on the other side of I-25 for repairs. While it was being repaired, the staff told him someone cut off the 85-pound machine gun and stole it while it was in the lot. The gun was a demilitarized 0.50 caliber machine gun mounted on the top of the vehicle. The gun was set up with propane and oxygen hookups to simulate the flash and sound of the real thing. Marshall filed a police report, but so far, there has been no indication who might have stolen it or if it will ever be returned to its rightful owner. The timing was the worst part for Bob. He could replace it eventually, but the whole reason he got the whole thing was to use it for Memorial Day, July Fourth, and Veterans Day. A friend lent him a resin-plastic replacement to get him through the holiday, just so his iconic Willy’s wouldn’t be naked for an upcoming parade, but without the hookups, it can’t have the same functions. Marshall fears the person who stole it likely thought it was operable. Anyone with information on the gun’s whereabouts is asked to call the Parker Colorado police dept.
Glue Sniffing Jeep Stealer
Last Thursday, just before we started recording actually, in Warren Michigan, Police officers were dispatched to a residence near the 9 Mile/Ryan area regarding a white Jeep that had collided with a home. The caller reported observing the female occupant of the Jeep inhaling unknown chemicals from an unknown container. You know, there are rumors that I used to eat paste, but at least I never graduated to sniffing glue.
Officers responded to the area but the Jeep had moved on to an adjacent residential street. A license plate check of the Jeep showed the vehicle to be freshly stolen from Hazel Park on the 4th of November. Here in Portland, they have stopped pulling over stolen vehicles, since the DA out here has stopped prosecuting these crimes, and they passed a law a couple of years ago anyways, that states; if you didn’t know the car was stolen, then you couldn’t be charged for the crime. So all thieves are doing now is saying I borrowed it from a friend of a friend, and they’re off the hook. Warren officers, however, don’t have such ridiculous laws to contend with and attempted to pull the Jeep over as they should. I’ll give you one guess what happened next. The Jeep took off. Of course, it did! If this went all routine and rainbows, we wouldn’t have heard about it right? The Jeep was able to flee the area and entered southbound I-75 where the Jeep struck a Warren Police patrol car. As we have heard recently, Jeeps can take an amazing amount of vehicular punishment, so it’s no surprise that this didn’t stop the woman driving the stolen Jeep at all. Maybe it was the speeds, maybe it was the number of other cars on the road, or maybe this chick is just the best ever getaway driver, but she managed to escape being pulled over and was able to drive through several communities. So at this point, we have police from Warren, Detroit, and Grosse Pointe Park all involved with the chase, with the driver swerving AT patrol cars the whole time. The Jeep was seen recklessly speeding down residential streets, even on the sidewalk at times, completely disregarding red lights and stop signs, and generally giving no “F’s” whatsoever. The Grosse Pointe Park Police Department eventually got an officer in the right place at the right time to deploy stop sticks which ultimately caused the Jeep to stop in their city, but not before colliding with a telephone pole. The driver of the Jeep was then taken into custody without any further incident. So who is this “Gone in 60 Seconds” like a driver who was able to so deftly escape so many police?
The driver is Michelle Elaine Steele, a 42-year-old Warren resident. According to the reports, Steele has an extensive criminal history including prior convictions for drunk driving, fleeing & eluding, disorderly conduct, and resisting police. Such a model citizen, right? Pillar of the community! The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office has authorized the following list of charges against this Jeep stealing glue sniffer. They include but will likely not be limited to receiving & concealing stolen property (felony), fleeing & eluding 2nd degree (felony), malicious destruction of a building (felony), malicious destruction of police property (felony), assaulting-resisting-obstructing a police officer (felony), and driving with a suspended license (misd). Steele was arraigned with bond being set at $100,000 cash and a GPS Tether. Steele’s next court date is the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Something tells me the only stuffing she’s going to see is in the pillow in her jail cell. Big Thanks to Chris from http://sevenslats.com/ for bringing this story to our attention. Chris actually works just a couple miles from where this chase started and lives just a couple miles from where the Jeep was finally stopped. He was close enough he could have joined in! Thanks again, Chris!
Newbie Nuggets with Wendy
My favorite thing about Jeepin’
Ok, there are lots of things I love about Jeeping but my favorite thing is spotting a Jeeper through the more difficult obstacles. I think it fits with my brain’s need to “figure” things out, like a puzzle. I was always good at puzzles and spotting is like that…well sort of.
How much spotting have YOU done? If you are a newbie, probably not much and you may be asking the question “what is spotting and how do I get one, and should I get it before the light bar?” Spotting is the art of guiding a driver and their jeep through an obstacle – essentially the spotter becomes the driver’s eyes and can “see” the line, the Jeep’s tires, and guide the Jeep through and over obstacles. I have two great segments that describe spotting (episode 433) and picking a line in episode 428 that explains in detail what I‘m talking about.
I love spotting because when I arrive at an obstacle, I’m one of the first people out of the jeep to “figure” out my line and what path seems to be the best. I love working with newbies on obstacles and when I describe what I’m looking at, or for, then I show them how to look for their line and I see their expression go from “what is she talking about”, to OH MY Gosh, I see it”. When the lightbulb goes on, it’s priceless.
For me, it’s the challenge to get a Jeep through without any damage. Sure there are times a jeep gets hung up but it’s my responsibility (if I’m the spotter) to get them through reasonably unscathed. That puts some pressure on me, but it’s a challenge I willingly accept and it’s such an amazing feeling to see the driver succeed and better yet, the beaming smile from ear to ear when they are through and realize, “they just did that”…
Spotting will always be my forte in the Jeeping world; I have a natural knack for it. Sure, I have other expertise and knowledge as I wheel more, but honestly, I always go back to offering to spot. I love when we approach an obstacle and there is a back-up with other Jeepers or trucks or whatever vehicle these days. I LOVE to watch: First, to see if I can pick out what line they are choosing and see if they make it or not. Second, to see if I can learn anything by watching them go through it. I love to see if they by chance chose my line or their own, and how it works out. Of course, I am always willing to help but mostly I watch and learn (what works and what doesn’t). I mentioned in a lot of my segments that the best way to learn anything is to get out of the Jeep and watch. Watch how someone goes through an obstacle or maybe it’s a repair on the trail, watch everything you can and learn. Trust me when I say, I got where I am today by watching and learning and I still learn each time I go out.
Just remember that being new is the beginning of a life-long process. You have to get out and wheel. You have to get some runs under your belt and before you know it, you will have skills you probably never knew you had or would need. I would never profess to know it all, but I do a pretty good job of assessing a situation and have had great successes. Wheeling with experienced Jeepers like Don Alexander and my husband Bill, has helped tremendously, but it’s really me getting out there and watching. I hope you are doing the same and who knows what skill set you will find and the confidence you’ll gain doing it over and over again.
Jeep Talk Show Gladiator Update
When I bought the 2021 Jeep Talk Show Gladiator I was surprised to find that it comes with a 100k miles warranty from Southfork Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. To keep this warranty in effect it requires an oil change from a professional! This rubbed me the wrong way, cause as you know I’d rather do my own stuff, and especially an oil change.
Jeep says oil change is at 10,000 miles, but Southfork says no, 5,000. A little sticker was on the windshield with 5,000 miles and a phone number to call. I called that number, Southfork, and scheduled an appointment for the next day. It was a fairly long drive, but Deadpool, my salesman, told me how good the service department was at Southfork.
This was my first time getting service, and really 24 years since I had a new vehicle to take to service! I followed the signs, pulled into the 3 lanes covered area, was motioned to pull forward. My service adviser came out to greet me. I told her about my appointment for the oil change. She was working on the paperwork and mentioned the Jeep Talk Show.
I asked her, oh you know about it? Yes, she said. Do you listen? Oh no she said. Hmm, that didn’t sound like she approved of the show! I think she caught herself and said oh but my Dad does religiously!
Whew! Emotions saved! Still not willing to be shut down I asked if she’d like a sticker! Oh no! She said. Lol What about a sticker for your Dad? Sure!
So after she got me squared away and said it should be about an hour to an hour and a half, I took off to go say hi to Southfork owner Chris. After waving at and chatting briefly I decided to go back to the service area and stare at my Jeep in the service bay. Ray, my service adviser looked up. We started chatting about Jeeps, and I found out she also has a Gladiator. Shortly after that, the smartphone came out with a picture of her Gladiator! She’s had 7 or 8 Jeeps, and get this, she has a membership at Hidden Falls.
I don’t know about you, but it makes me feel good taking my Jeep to a place where people that are helping you, love Jeeps!
While talking I saw my Jeep being pulled up. I was surprised how quickly it happened. I know an oil change doesn’t take long, but it depends on how many are ahead of you.
As part of the oil change, they rotate your tires, but since I’ve only had 1500 miles on the new Nexen Roadian MTX tires I told them to skip that part.
Now I didn’t time it but if I was there over 40 minutes I’d be shocked. Having a good conversation about Jeeps helps the time go by.
Camp Fireside Chat
High-performance Jeeps need to run on higher octane fuel, but with gas prices on the rise again, what are you putting in your tank, and how much are you paying? Are you considering buying a daily driver to save on gas?
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Links Mentioned in this Episode
NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/
Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver
The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/
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